76.1 in the first quarter of 2011. The survey was conducted January 6-13, 2011
among 1,237 affluent luxury consumers
(average income $308,700; median net
worth $861,000; age 43. 9 yrs; 42% male
and 58% female).

“The uptick in this quarter’s LCI reveals a more positive outlook among affluent consumers about the economy at
large, as well as increased optimism about
their personal economic situation,” according to Pam Danziger, president of
Unity Marketing.

Hawaiian Tropic’s Shimmer Effects Lotion gives
skin instant radiance.

High Priced Protection

If the Unity Marketing data holds true, that
bodes well for sun care companies competing in the high end of the sun care market.
S&G Hampton Sun LLC is one such firm.
Its line of products retail from $30 to $65
and president and owner Salvatore Piazzolla insists that he is trying to bring glamour back to the sun care category.

After a soft launch in 2005 in 12 New
York City doors and the Hamptons, the
posh, celebrity-filled summer retreat on
Long Island, Hampton Sun quickly ex-

panded into hotels, resorts, cruise ships and
spas. Today, the company has more than
400 points of distribution. Piazzolla told
HAPPI that he expects to sign a contract
with a big U.S. retailer in the near future
and expand outside the country too.

“Our products are for the person whotakes sunbathing seriously and wants ahigh-end luxury product,” explained Piaz-zolla. “We use all natural, organic oils to re-plenish natural nutrients in the skin.”The Hampton Sun lineup includes 17products, including Continuous Mist. An

When Will the Monograph Get Finalized?

AS THE 2011 SUN CARE SEASON heats up in the U.S., nearly every ob- server has just about given up trying to determine when the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue its final ruling on the Sunscreen Monograph. Industry sources had suggested that the ruling
would get released last fall, but Autumn came and went and no ruling
was issued. Moreover, there are still several active ingredients that must
be addressed by FDA.

“There are seven ingredients that have been buried at the FDA for
4 to 7 years now and (they represent) the only way we can achieve 4-
star, high SPF UVA ratings,” explained industry consultant and HAPPI
columnist Nadim Shaath, president of Alpha Research & Development.

Regarding the Time and Extent Application (TEA), he noted that the
FDA has once again extended its deadline, this time to April 2011. At the
same time, FDA has issued a “to be determined” deadline for new proposed rules for sunscreens combined with insect repellent.

“Well at least they are honest by saying, ‘to be determined,’” ob-served Shaath. “I have given up on the business of predicting what theFDA is going to do.”One thing is for sure, consumers seem to be more confused thanever these days. Beauty Stat, a leading online interactive community andsocial marketing expert for the beauty industry, recently asked its morethan 30,000 followers: “Do you know the difference between the protec-tion that sunscreens are said to provide (UVA and UVB)? Do you believewhole-heartedly that sunscreens do, in fact, prevent UV damage?”They heard back from a few of them and here is what they had to say:Tammy: “I developed hyperpigmentation on my face after using asunscreen on my face. Prior to that summer, I had never used a sun-screen on my face and had no problems and after using the sunscreenthat summer the hyperpigmentation developed.”Katja: “I know people hate sunscreens—bad for environment, badfor skin. But they do prevent me from bursting into flames and I ap-preciate that.”Jamie: “Well, I’ve been using the same UV protection facial creamfor the last 12 years and so far so good! I can only hope that it’s doingits job!”Stephanie: “UVA causes aging (dark spots, collagen breakdown,wrinkles) UVB causes burning which may lead to skin cancer and ac-tinic damage years later. Use a broad-spectrum block that protectsagainst both. Reapply every couple hours. Don't forget to include yourears, back of your neck and hands...and scalp if also exposed.”Erin: “Clueless.”If the Beauty Stat audience is a microcosm of the total consumerviews on the subject, it’s clear that more work remains to be done to ed-ucate consumers about the topic.